Counter bin construction



@st 41-, E949 H, J HICKEY 2,483,769

COUNTER BIN CONSTRUCTION Filed July 19, 1946 Patented Oct. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COUNTER BIN CONSTRUCTION Henry J. Hickey, Quincy, Mass.

Application July 19, 1946, Serial No. 684,988

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to store furniture and fixtures, and is concerned more particularly with equipment for constructing a bin on the top of a counter, table or the like, and sub-dividing the bin into a plurality of compartments for display of merchandise.

My invention has for its primary object the provision of a new and improved counter top bin and sub-dividing means therefor which is exceptionally economical in construction, operation and maintenance, which provides an unusually rigid and firm outer wall and partition mounting, which is unusually well adapted to adjustment in a wide variety of partition positions for the provision of a large variety of differently sized and shaped compartments, which is exceptionally close fitting and designed to minimize the danger of partition breakage, and which is otherwise exceptionally efficient in the performance of its stated functions.

Still more specifically, the present invention relates to improved fixtures for supporting the outer walls and partitions of counter display bins, and for permitting the use of partitions of various lengths and in various positions so as to provide a large variety of difierently sized and shaped bin compartments.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter a counter top provided with :a partitioned bin whose outer walls and partitions are supported by'means of fixtures constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, drawn on an enlarged scale, of the intermediate fixture or partition support forming part of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the support or fixture shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 of an outer wall support or fixture forming part of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an end View of the support or fixture shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an enlarged section taken on line 'l--1 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of that portion of the construction shown in Figure 1 where adjacent partitions meet, the counter being omitted.

Referring in detail to the drawing, C indicates a conventional counter or merchandise table having a top 5 surrounded by an upstanding marginal rim 6 and cooperating with the latter to provide a shallow recess.

Disposed upon the upper face of the counter top 5 :at the inner side of the rim 6, both at the ends and sides of the counter, are fixtures or supports F for the end and side walls W of the bin, which walls may be in the form of elongated strips of plate glass or the like. Each support or fixture F comprises an integral elongated strip of metal having a horizontal base flange l for disposition upon the counter top, an upright flange 8 extending upwardl from a longitudinal edge of the base fiange 1 to confine the lower edge portion of the adjacent wall W against the opposing rim or flange 6 and thereby sustain the wall W in a vertical position, and a plurality of angular tongues 9 extending inwardly and downwardly from the upper edge of the upright flange 8 and spaced apart as at It! for snug reception of the lower portion of an end of a partition P between any selected adjacent ones thereof to sustain said partition in a vertical position. The base flange l of each fixture F may be apertured for reception of screws as indicated at H in Figure 6, whereby the fixture may be securely fastened in place upon the counter top. The upright flange 8 is normally inclined downwardly and inwardly so that its upper portion yieldingly clamps the associated wall W against the opposing rim 6, as illustrated.

Disposed upon the upper face of the counter top 5 parallel with and spaced from the end supports or fixtures F, are any desired number of spaced partition supports or fixtures F, one of which is shown in Figure l. The supports or fixtures F extend transversely of the counter substantially from side to side thereof between the side fixtures F. Each fixture F comprises an elongated strip of metal having a horizontal base portion l for disposition upon the counter top, upright flanges B and 8 respectively extending upwardly from the respective longitudinal edges of the base portion 1' to snugly receive the lower edge portion of a transverse partition therebetween and thereby sustain said partition in a vertical position, and a plurality of angular tongues 9 extending laterally away from each other and then downwardly from the upper edges of the upright flanges 8 and 8 and spaced apart as at it for snug reception of the lower portions of the adjacent ends of longitudinal partitions between any selected adjacent ones thereof to sustain said longitudinal partitions in a vertical position. The longitudinal partitions referred to are short ones disposed at opposite sides of each transverse partition, as will be apparent. In practice, the double supports or fixtures for the partitions may be constructed of two of the single supports or fixtures F having their horizontal base flanges overlapped and spot welded together to form the base portions yieldingly clamp the associated partition therebetween. By varying the position of the transverse supports or fixtures F and the tions of the longitudinal partitions, a wide variety of partition positions is provided for so as t6 permit the provision of a largevariety. of: dimer: ent sized and shaped compartments.

It will be noted that the invention contemplates mere provision of generally similar fixtures of sinle ubl a eparate socke me bers.

being needed. The fixtures or-supports are simp cut to. o e n h and ac in se exped tionsly without th need of special skill; or tools.

'llh nositionsoi the par itions er adi an 2' quickly chan ed whenever desired, removal; and insertion of the. longitudinal partitions being all; that; isr q ir to. mak he chang wi h respe thereto, To change the position of thetransverse pantition s, they must be. moved, along with the assppiated supports or fixtures, and then proper new longitudinal partitions n be p ov d d and. placed in use- Erom th foregoin description, it is believed that the construction, manner of use and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Minor changes and; modifications are contemplated such as fall Within the scope of the invent on as. claimed.

What. I claim is:

An outer wall or partition support for a ccunter top having an edge flange, comprising an integral elongated strip of metal having a horizontal base flange. for disposition upon the counter top. an upright flange extending upwardl from a longitudinal edge of the base flange to confine the lower edge portion of the bin wall or partition against said edge flange and thereby sustain the wall or partition in a vertical position, and a plurality of angular tongues extending inwardly and downwardly from the upper edge of said upright flange and spaced apart for snug reception of the lower portion of an end of a partition between any selected adjacent ones thereof to sustain said partition in a vertical position.

2. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein said upright flange is normally inclined downwardly and inwardly so that its upper portion yieldin ly clamps the associated wall or partition against said edge flange.

3. A partition support for counter display bins comprising an elongated strip of metal having a horizontal base portion for disposition upon the counter top, upright flanges respectively extending upwardly from the respective longitudinal edges of the base portion to snugly receive the lower edge portion of a partition therebetween and thereby sustain said partition in a vertical position, and a plurality of angular tongues extending laterally away from each other and then downwardly from the upper edges of the upright flanges and spaced apart for snug reception of the lower portions of adjacent ends of partitions between any selected adjacent ones thereof to sustain said partitions in a vertical position.

4. The construction defined in claim 3, wherein said upright flanges extend in downwardly diverging relation to yieldingly clamp the associated first named partition between the upper portions thereof.

5. In combination with .a counter top surrounded by an upstanding marginal rim, an outer bin wall disposed at the inner side of said rim, and a support for said bin Wall comprising an integral elongated strip of metal having a horizontartan fiangedisposed upon the counter top, an upright flange extending upwardly from the inner longitudinal, edge of the base flange and confiningthe lower edge portion of the bin wall against said rim to sustain said wall in a vertical position, a plurality of angular tongues extending inwardly and downwardly. from the upper edge of-s afid -upright flange and spaced apart for snug, reception of the lower portion of an end of; a bin partition between any selected adjacent ones; thereof to sustain said partition in a vertical po sition, and a bin partition having the lower por tion oian end thereof engaged between adjacent ones off'said; angular tongues.

6. In combination with a counter top, trans verse and longitudinal bin partitions disposed thereon, and a support for. said partitions com prising an elongated strip of metal having a hori zontal base portion disposed upon the counter top, upright flanges respectively extending up; wardly from the respective longitudinal edges of; the base portion and snugly receiving the lower. edge. portion of the transverse partition there: ,etween to sustain the same in a vertical position, and a plurality of angular tongues extending laterally away from each other and then downwardly. from the upper edges of the upright flanges, said angular tongues being spaced apart and snugly receiving the lower portions of adja cent ends of longitudinal partitions between se lected adjacent ones thereof to sustain said lon gitudinal partitions in a vertical position.

7. The construction defined in claim 3 wherein said support comprises two similar longitudinal members having horizontal base flanges overlapped one upon the other and secured together to form said horizontal base portion.

' 8. Means for supporting an outer wall or partition member for counter display bins comprising an integral elongated strip having a horizontal base flange for disposition on the top of the counter, an upright flange, extending upwardly from the base flange to confine the lower edge portion of the bin wall or partition against an opposing flange and thereby sustain the wall or partition in a vertical position, and a plurality of angular tongues extending inwardly and downwardly from the upper edge of said upright flange and spaced apart for snug reception of the lower portion of an end of a partition between any selected adjacent ones thereof to sustain said partition in a vertical position.

HENRY J. HICKEY.

REFERENCES orr un The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'r-nurrs Number Name Date 1,523,136 OConnor Jan. 13, 1925 2,050;143 White Aug. 4, 1936 2,123,264 Walter July 12'. 1938 

